Mike James

Education: BA (Hons) Philosophy and English, PGCE (FE), PG Dip Theatre Studies (Dist) [University of Wales]

TEACHING EXPERIENCE:

1972 -79:  English Lecturer, Isle of Ely college of FE, Cambridgeshire.

THEATRE APPOINTMENTS:

1980 -1984: ARTISTIC DIRECTOR - FRESH CLAIMS THEATRE COMPANY*.

[* Fresh Claims became one of Wales' leading touring companies, achieving full revenue grant status from the Welsh Arts Council and touring extensively throughout Wales.  During this time I wrote dozens of songs for the various revues/community shows that played every major venue and most community centres throughout Wales.] 

1985 -1988: ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR - SHERMAN THEATRE, Cardiff. 

1988 - 1990: ARTISTIC DIRECTOR - SHERMAN THEATRE, Cardiff. *

[* The Sherman Theatre was and remains Cardiff’s only repertory theatre.]

Productions at the Sherman include:

BLOOD BROTHERS - Willy Russell

GREGORY'S GIRL - (Bill Forsyth, adapted by Mike James)

VANITY FAIR (adapted from Thackeray by Declan Donellan)

SPOKESONG - Stewart Parker

TRUE WEST - Sam Shepard

A WINTER’S TALE - William Shakespeare

ROMEO AND JULIET - William Shakespeare

THE GLASS MENAGERIE - Tennessee Williams 

A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE - Tennessee Williams 

In addition I wrote/directed/musically directed the Sherman Theatre Christmas shows: HARRY'S COMET, THE AMAZING MR TOAD, EMPEROR'S NEW CLOTHES, PIED PIPER, and CRAZY JASON AND THE ASTRONAUTS.] 

1990 -1993:  ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR - TORCH THEATRE, MILFORD HAVEN

Productions at the Torch include: 

UNDER MILK WOOD - Dylan Thomas

HISTORY OF MR. POLLY - H.G Wells  (musical adaptation by Mike James)   

THE FINAL APPEARANCE OF MISS MAMIE STUART - Philip Michell (music by Mike James)

OZ – written by Mike James   

1993 -1994:  ARTISTIC DIRECTOR  - MID WALES TOURING COMPANY 

Wrote/directed a musical adaptation of Henry Fielding's novel TOM JONES, touring extensively in England and Wales from Feb – May 1994.

1994-98: ARTISTIC DIRECTOR  - TORCH THEATRE, MILFORD HAVEN 

Productions include:

RISE AND FALL OF LITTLE VOICE - Jim Cartwright 

DANCING AT LUGHNASA - Brian Friel

Musical version of Moliere’s SCHOOL FOR WIVES adapted by Mike James 

CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF - Tennessee Williams

IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST - Oscar Wilde

DUET FOR ONE - Tom Kempinski

And for the Dyffren House Summer Festival, Cardiff (Summers 1993-6)

            Wrote/directed/musical directed three children’s musicals:

WHO'S AFRAID OF THE BIG BAD WOLF?  (1993)

FROG PRINCE (1994)

HANSEL AND GRETEL (1995)

RECENT THEATRE:

Mike's musical drama, 'Tom' - based on the early life of the singer Tom Jones – was commissioned by  Welsh theatre company Theatr Na Nog and  was first staged at his birthplace, Pontypridd on March 1st 2014, followed by a ten-week tour of Wales and the UK followed by a more extensive No 1 tour undertaken in 2016/17. It was directed by Geinor Styles.

In addition, Mike’s drama 'Somewhere in England' about the BBC's move to Bangor, Wales, during the war,  was commisioned  by Theatr Clwyd in October  2014 and directed by Pete Rowe and was based on an original idea by John Biggins.

And 'Jackie: the Musical' -  directed by Anna Linstrum and choreographed  by Arlene Phillips – was originally premiered in Dundee and  toured venues throughout the UK in 2016/2017. 
 

TELEVISION EXPERIENCE:

For ITV/ SCOTTISH TELEVISION/GRANADA:

Co-writer of eight series of children's programme 'Allsorts' (1991-6) 

Writer: 'Our House' (1996)        

Producer/Writer/Composer: 'Tales of Toodlebye' (1996)

Writer on’ Riff and Raff'  (for GMTV) - 26 Episodes (1997/8)

Co-writer on the Filmfair co-production of the animated series: 'Upstairs Downstairs Bears'        (1999/00)

Writer/ composer/ producer ' Squeak' - 50 episodes

(2003)

For CHANNEL FOUR:

Producer/writer/composer on a Channel Four Schools projects:             

'What's so good about Roald Dahl?'  (2000)

'What's so good about Dick King Smith?  (2001)

Script editor /composer on 13 part drama series for children 'The Ice Cream Machine' (2004)

For FIVE:

Co-producer/writer/composer on 'Woolamaloo!' (40 episodes) (2004/5)

For BBC:

Co-writer of 16-week children's TV series 'Breakfast Serials' (1990)

Co-writer on 'G force’ - a comedy drama series for 12-14 year olds  - first and second series (1999/2000)

Script editor/writer on 'Word Master'  (part of the 'Look and Read' series) for BBC Education (1999/2000)

Writer on  'Raven: The Island' (20 episodes) (2006)

Writer on  'Raven: the Secret Temple' (20 episodes) (2007)

Writer on  'Raven: the Dragon's Eye' (20 episodes) (2008)

For CBEEBIES:

Writer on 'Bits and Bobs'  (2000)          

Writer on 'Waybuloo'  (2009-2011)

Writer on ‘Zingzillas’ (2010-2011)

Writer on ‘Nina and the Neurons’ (2011)

Writer on ‘Gigglebiz’  (2009-2014)

Writer  on “Old Jack’s Boat’( 2013)

Writer on ‘Something Special’ (2014)

Writer on ‘Justin’s House’ (2014)